Get Up and Go
Theme of the Week: Engaging Our Communities
Mike Raether
Friday, July 7, 2006
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Key Bible Verse: "I will cause my people and their homes around my holy hill to be a blessing" (Ezekiel 34:26). Bonus Reading:Matthew 5:13-16
After years of sobriety, there I was sitting on a barstool. Rows of festive bottles beckoned me. However, I was content with my glass of Diet 7-Up®. God and I had worked out my drinking problem long ago. I was in the bar for a higher purpose.
I'm a member of a new church in a rural area where there's been none for almost 100 years. When we first built the church, the locals were indifferent to our invitations to join us for worship. We soon realized they wouldn't be interested in our faith until they knew we cared about them. So we decided to go out and make friends.
My part was to start an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group. I found some prospects in the bar that afternoon. An AA group now meets regularly, and some of the members have achieved sobriety. Others in my church started a community food bank; it's highly successful. We also made our church basement available as a free community center; it's used regularly.
One man told me recently, "When you first built the church, we all laughed. But I see now that it's a good thing. You're helping people." We think it won't be long before some enter the kingdom of God.
—Mike Raether in Montana
My Response: How could my church become a valued asset in my community?
Thought to Apply: People don't care about your creeds until they see your deeds.—Rick Warren (pastor & author)
Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.
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Lord, You warned us about being flavorless salt or concealed light. Help us penetrate our communities with Your love and justice.
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